Switch-selector.



0. A. DANIEL SON, SWITCH SELECTOR. APPLICATION FI'LED NOV. 2. 1914.

1,214,515. I Patented Feb. 6,1917.

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O. A. DANIELSON. SWITCH SELECTOR. APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 2. 1914.

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TED" @TATQEg PATENT @FFIGE OSCAR A. DANIELSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 WESTEBIWELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SWITCH-SELECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatcntedFeb. 6, 1191?,

Application filed November .1 1914. Serial No. 869.811.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that l. Use: A. Dani-arson, a citizen of the United States. residing at New York city. in the county oi New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Selectors. of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to switch selectors and is particularly adapted for use in keyboard transmitters for printing telegraph systems, although obviously not limited to such use.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a mechanism otth above type wherein pivoted construction is reducted to a'minimum and the entire structure is reliable, efficient and simple.

Another object is to provide an improved locking arrangement, whereby the switches are insured against derangement.

To accomplish these ends, the invention contemplates the use of, first, flexible selectable connectors adapted for-cooperation with the switches and a common actuator and, second, an individual locking device for each connector brought into operation through the influence of the actuator.

The above and other objects of this invention will be fully set forth in the following description and claims, and will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a plan of a keyboard ma chine in which the invention is incorporated, part of the inclosing housing being broken away to reveal the working parts. Fig. 2 is a section 011 the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of, part of the locking mechanism and Figs. 5 and G are enlocking device.

The entire keyboard structure is supported upon a frame 5 and all but the finger keys may be covered and protected by an inclosing housing 6. The finger keys are arranged like those in an ordinary typewriter keyboard, and are carried by levers 8 pivoted on a common pivot bar (not shown) at the back of the mechanism. The key levers 8 are provided with downwardly projecting teeth or lugs 9 arranged in various combinations to form selecting members for do tel-mining the switch or switches to be actuated, and to initiate the automatic operation of the mechanism.

'lhe-selecting members co'iiperate with a plurality of selectable members in the form oi sliding bars 10. These bars 10, live in number, are provided at each end with diagonal slots 11, within which lies a bearing roller 12 carried by pedestals on the frame and on which the bars are free to move. By means of this construction, when a key lever is depressed those of the bars 10 which are in line with lugs 9 thereon are caused to move downward along lines diagonal to their normal position. Each bar 10 is provided with a spring 15, secured thereto and to an anchor member 16, whereby. the bars are returned to and retained in their normal position after each operation. An abut ment 17 and a comblike member 18 secured to the frame thereby serve to limit the extent of the movements of bars 10.

The switches to be selectively actuated comprise five sets of contact springs, each set being composed of two fixed springs 20 and 21 and a movable spring22 therebetween; The relation between these contact springs is such that when the apparatus is in a normal condition, only springs 20 are engaged by springs 22. These contact springs are insulatively supported by a block or bracket 23 carried by the frame, and the free ends of the movable springs 22 are provided with insulating contact pieces 24.

Coiiperating with the bars 10 and the sets of switches are a plurality of flexible connectors 30, one for each bar and corresponding set. Each of these connectors is secured at one end to one of the bars IQ and extends close to the end of the movable springs 22 through an opening or slot in a common actuator 31. .The actuator 31 is slidably held in guides in the frame and is adapted to be reciprocated by an electro-magnet 32 through its pivoted armature 33 and a retractile spring 34. Flexible connectors 30 are, at their free ends, provided with laterally extending contact portions 40 adapted, under conditions to be now explained, to engage and move corresponding springs 22 from engagement with springs 20 into on gagement with springs 21;

When through the agency of the selecting members certain of the bars 10 are de-' pressed, the corresponding llesible connectors 230 are moved downward in the direction of their length. This movement bringstheir contact extensions 40 in line with the contact pieces '2 of springs 22. It now, the electromagnct 3; is energized, actuator 3i will be moved in the dircctioi'i of the arrow of hi. I and the selected flexible connectors will be moved thereby to cause certain of the springs to be separated from springs 20 and noted into ell-- gagemcnt with springs ii. The unselected connectors are also moved in the direction of the arrow but, not having been dopressed they do not more their corresponding switches 22 ant. these sets remain analtered.

The electromagnet 32 is energized by the closing of a circuit through its windings alter the selected connectors 30 have been positioned to operate the desired switches 2:2. This circuit condition is produced lhropgh the agency ot an additional bar to. Bar i5 is constructed the same as bars 10, except that it is not provided with a flexible connector 30, but at its opposite end carries a switch controller &6. The switch controller l6 is adapted to close a normally open switch 47 whereby the energizing circuit of magnet 3:4 is controlled. hey

level 8 is adaoted to ooeratc bar &5 in addi- 1 l tion to one or more of the selectable bars 10, and the arrangement is so all that switch 47 will not be closed until all of the bars 10 which have been sclected,,arc moved sulliciently to place the corresponding connectors in operative condition relative to the switches.

In order to prevent molestation or derangemcnt of th switches while electromagnet 32 is eneigized means are provided.

- for locking both the selected and unselected connectors 30 until the electromagnct 'isde energized. The locking means comprises individual latches 50, one for each connector 30, carried by, and preferably integrally formed from a bridge 51. These latches are triangular in cross section as shown, and

cooperate with laterally extending or L shaped portions of the coiiinectors 30.

When the clcctromagnet 32 is energized,

actuator 31,.as previously explained, moves in the (llI'U-Clilk'lll of the arrow shown in Fig;

33, to cause all of the connectors 30 to move to the right. Those which have been first depressed by the operated key lever, carry with them the corresponding switches 22, and their L shaped portions 52 take positions below the corresponding latches as shownat the left of Fi 4-. The L. shaped porticns of those connectors 30 which have not been first depr ssed, take positions above their corresponding latches 50 as shown at the right of lln this condition, due to the overlapping of the latches the l. shaped portions ol" the connectors 30, it is readily apparent that the positions of none of the connectors or bars 10 can be changed until clectron'nlgnet is decnergizcd and actuator ill has been. returned to normal by spring 34-. While some of the lit) lovers 8, all of whose lugs 9 are adapted to engage some of the bars 10 which have been lowered on one selection, can be depressed while electromagnct 32 is energized on that selection, it is readily apparent that the depression ol such a key can have no ell'ert on the combinati n of switches already set up. Likewise, since all of the bars 10 are locked 'hile clectroinagnct 232 is energized, no linger licy having a lug 9 adapt- .cd to engage. an undeprcssed bar 10 can be operated.

The use of flexible connectors between the selectable members it) and the switches presents many advantages over a pivoted struc turc. while the individual latches for these members is preferable to a common latch since each may be adjusted ilulcpcndcntly ol' the others.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch selector comprising a plurality of switches, a common actuator therefor, selecting means for said switches, and a. flexible connector common to each of said switches for effecting the open and closed condition thereof and cooperating with said me: ns and said actuator, whereby said actuator may selectively operate said switches.

a, A switch selector comprising a plurality of switches, selective means therefor, a common. actuator cooperating with said switches and said means whereby selected switches are operated, and an individual latch for each means cooperating therewith upon. the operation of the actuator whereby the selected and unselected means and switches are locked until the return of the actuator.

3. A switch selector comprising a. plurality of switches, a common actuator therefor, selecting means for said switches, flexible connectors cooperating with said switches and said means whereby said actuator may selectively operate said switches, and a. lockingdevicc .lor holding said connectors and swi chcs after being actuated.

4-. A switch selector comprising a plurality of selectable members, selectors therefor, a plurality of switches, flexible connectors adapted to coiiperate with said mcmbers and said switches, a common actuator for moving all of said connectors to operate corresponding switches, and a plurality of latches one for each member and cooperating therewith for locking both the selected and unselected members.

5. A switch selector comprising a plurality of selecting members, a plurality of selectable members less in number than the number of said selecting members, a plurality of switches equal in number to the number of said selectable members, flexible connectors cooperating with each of said switches and selectable members, a common actuator controlled by said selectors and simultaneously moving all of said connectors,

whereby only selected connectors actuate their corresponding switches, and a latch for each connector broughtinto operation by the movement of said actuator to lock all of said connectors and said switches against derangement while said actuator is operated.

6. A switch selector comprising a plurality of selectable switches, a plurality of selecting means therefor greater in number than the number of said switches, a plurality of diagonally movable members equal in number to the. number of said switches and vselectively actuated by said n'ieans, a flexible connector for each said member, and a common actuator brought into aclion by said means and causing the cooperation of a switch and connector corresgmnding to the actuated said member.

7. A keyboard switch selector comprising a plurality of key levers baring projections selectively arranged thereon, a plurality of selectable members adapted to be moved diagonally from their mirmal position when operated by the projections on said key levers, a flexible connector attached to each said member, a contact portion on each said connector, a switch for cooperation with each said contact portion, and an actuator controlled by said he lei and adapted to move said connectors whereby the condition of the said switches corresponding to the operated said members are altered.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this :28 day of October, A. i). 191%.

; OSCAR A. UnNIELSON.

Witnesses Amos DIXON,

ELLA Emacs, 

